Etymologically
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providenter

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [proː.wɪˈdɛn.tɛr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [pro.viˈdɛn.ter][1]

Forms

prōvidenter (comparative prōvidentius, superlative prōvidentissimē)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin prōvidēns (“foreseeing”) + -ter,[2][1] the present participle of prōvideō (“to foresee, take precautions”),[1][3] itself a compound of prō- (“forward”) and videō (“to see”).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler and Georges date it from Cicero,[3][4] but the TLL takes Cicero's superlative prōvidentissimē in the De natura deorum as a false reading for prūdentissimē, and the two adverbs are confused in manuscripts.[5] Conte cites both Cicero and Sallust's Jugurtha[6] for the meaning “with foresight, prudently”.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The superlative prōvidentissimē is found from Pliny the Younger on,[5] who tells the emperor in a letter that he very wisely fears a lake may drain away.[5] Ulpian writes that a law has providently brought something about,[5] and the comparative appears in a declamation ascribed to Quintilian and, ironically, in Tertullian.[5][4]

Cyprian and Prudentius use it in Christian writing,[5] and Augustine has the superlative.[4] In medieval Britain Bede uses it of what happens by design, not by chance, and glossaries explain it as acting in a providential or prudent manner.[7]

Timeline

  • 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it in the Jugurtha.[6][3]
  • before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of a law.[5][3]
  • beginning of 3rd century–258 AD – Cyprian uses it in his treatise on the Lord's Prayer.[5][3]
  • 354–430 AD – Augustine uses the superlative.[4][3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. With foresight, prudently, carefully.[2][6][4]
  2. (Medieval Latin) In a providential manner, by design.[7]

Usage notes

Manuscripts often confuse it with prūdenter.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  6. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press